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(No Model.)

J,H.00NN. I AWNING FOR OAR PLATFORMS. 80,375,732. Patented Jan. 3, 1888.

wilfwaoazo UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcno JOHN H. CONN, OF ENGLEWOOD, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO 0. G. PUGH, OF SAME PLACE.

AWNING FOR CAR-PLATFORMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 375,732; dated January 3, 1888.

Application filed October 29, 1887. Serial No. 253,774. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN H. CONN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Englewood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvementin AdjustableAwnings for Car-Platforms, of which the following is a specification.

, My invention relates to an adjustable awning forcar-platforms, adapted to be attached to the ordinary permanent cover or top which extends over the platform, so that the outer edges of the said awnings on the adjacent ends of two connected cars will be in contact, and

' thus prevent the smoke and cinders discharged by the engine from being drawn down upon the platforms.

It is my object to provide an awning for the purpose named which will yield as the cars are forced together, and will spring out again as the cars separate, so that the two awnings form an unbroken cover between the cars at all times.

It is my object, further, to so arrange the awnings that their adjacent edges will be in contact while the cars are on a curve, as well as when they are on a straight track.

\Vith these objects in View my invention consists in securing a horizontal guide-plate to the outer edge of the top or cover which usually extends over car-platforms, and attaching. to the said guideplate an adjustable spring-actuated plate which will come in contact at the outer edge with the outer edge of a corresponding plate on the other car. These adjustable plates are adapted to come fairly in contact when the cars are coupled together, and if the cars in stopping are forced closer together the plates will yield. Vhen the cars are again drawn apart, however, the plates will spring out to their normal positions, and thus leave no space between their adjacent edges. The adjustable plates are loosely attached to the guide-plate, and therefore while the train is on a curve and the cars are at an angle to each other the outer edges of the adj ustable plates are always in contact.

Inthe accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the views, Figure l is a side View of the ends of two cars which are provided with my improved awnings. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal central section of the same. Fig. 3 is abottom plan View. Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the adjustable plates turned at an angle to the guide-plate.

Referring by letter to the drawings, A designates the ordinary top or cover over the platform of a car, which is merely a continuation of the roof of the car, and B represents a plate which is secured to the outer edge of the top B, and projects horizontally toward the adjacent car. The sides of this plate are provided with guides C 0, formed by turning the side edges of the plate under, and D represents an adjustable or movable plate which operates at the side edges in the guides G O. The outer or front edge of the plate D is provided with a depending lip, E, which presses fairly against the corresponding lip on the adjacent awning. The inner or rear edge of the adjustable plate D is provided with asmall depending detent, .F.

G designates a rod which is secured in a socket in the outer edge of the top or cover A, to which the awning is attached, and it extends outward almost to the outer edge of the rigid or guide plate B. This rod is adapted to be turned, and it is provided on the outer end with a hook, H, to engage the detent F and prevent the adjustable plate D from being withdrawn from the guides C Othat is, the hook limits the extension of the awning. If it is desired to remove the adjustable plate, the rod G is turned to disengage its hook from the detent F, and the edges of the plate D may then be drawn out of the guides (J 0.

It will be seen that when the hook H is engaged with the detent F the outward motion of the plate D is limited, as before stated; but the plate may be pushed back under the rigid or guide plate B until its rear edge strikes against the front edge of the top A,or a similar stop provided for the purpose. Further, the width of the adjustable plate is made slightly less than the width of the guide-plate, so that the edges of the adjustable plate lit loosely in the guides G, and consequently the adjustable plate may be turned at a considerable angle to the guide-plate, as shown in Fig. 4.

K K designate springs, having the arms L L and L L, respectively,joined at theirinner ends by the coils M M. The inner or rear arms of the springs are rigidly attached to the outer edge of the top A,or asimilar immovable sup- 7 port, and the outer or front arms operate at the extremities in the guides O O and press outwardly against the rear edge of the adj ustable plate D. The effect of this is that the said adjustable plate is normally held in its eX- tended position; but if the awning of an adja cent car presses against the outer edge of the plate D the latter will be re-pressed against the strength ofthe springs. As soon, however, as the pressure is removed from the plate D it will automatically resume its former extended position.

When the train is on a curve, the tops A A of the adjacent cars are not in line with each other,and therefore their adjacent ends are at an angle to each other. If the awnings were rigid with the cars, there would be a .Vshaped space between them which would allow cinders and smoke to fall on the platforms; but my improved awnings are not so constructed. As the cars turn at an angle to each other the adj ustable plates D turn in their guides and assume a position at an angle to the guide-plates, while their outer edges remain firmly in contact. Thus there is a continuous roof over the cars and platforms which is unbroken as long as the train is intact.

I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myselfstrictly to the precise details of construction herein described. It will be seen that my invention consists in providing an extensible awning which is attached to the end of a car and extends over the platfo1'ni,and the said awning is designed to meet the corresponding awning on the adjacent car and re main in contact therewith as long as the said cars are connected. This will afford travelers an opportunity to pass from one car to the next without being exposed to a shower of cinders.

These awnings may be made very ornamental, and, ifpreferred, the rigid plates may be constructed as part of the ordinary car-top, or the adjustable plate may be supported in guides on the projecting end of the car-top,and thus dispense with the guide-plate.

Having thus described my invention, I claim 1. The combination of the plate B,adapted to be secured to the end of the car over the platform and having the guides G G on its side edges, the plate D, sliding at its side edges in the said guides, and the springs K, attached to the end of the car and bearing against the rear edges ofthe plate D, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The combination ofthe plate 13, adapted to be secured to the end of a car and having the guides O O on its side edges, the plate D, sliding at its side edges in the said guides and having the depending lip E on its front edge, the spring K, comprising the arms L L, respectively, secured to the car and bearing against the rear edge of the plate D to force it forward, and the means, substantially as de scribed, to limit the outward motion of the plate D, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described awning for the purpose namcd, consisting of the guide-plate B, secured to the end of a car, the plate D, sliding in suitable guides on the said plate, the detent F. near the rear edge ofthe plate D,the springs K, bearing against the rear edge of the plate D to press it forward, and the rod G, mounted in a socket in the end of the car and having a hook on its front end to engage the said detent, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. CONN.

\Vitnesses:

L. O. HOGAN. GLENWOOD PREBLE. 

